SAN JOSE, Calif.- The Stockton Ports played at a venue other than Banner Island Ballpark for the first time in 2018 on Thursday night, and they got the same result they'd had the previous six games. The Ports defeated the San Jose Giants by a 4-1 final at Municipal Stadium
SAN JOSE, Calif.- The Stockton Ports played at a venue other than Banner Island Ballpark for the first time in 2018 on Thursday night, and they got the same result they'd had the previous six games. The Ports defeated the San Jose Giants by a 4-1 final at Municipal Stadium and, in doing so, picked up their seventh consecutive win to open the season at a 7-1 mark.
Stockton opened the scoring in the top of the third facing Giants starter Caleb Baragar (0-1), who was making his California League debut. Baragar issued back-to-back one-out walks to Kevin Merrell and Luke Persico. After Will Toffey flew out, Greg Deichmann provided a two-run double to center to score Merrell and Persico and give the Ports a 2-0 lead. Jonah Heim followed with a double that drove in Deichmann to make it 3-0.
Baragar would suffer the loss in his debut, going four innings and allowing three runs on four hits while striking out two.
Will Smith took over for San Jose on a Major League rehab assignment in the fifth and gave up a bunt single to Merrell, who then stole second. After a Persico single put runners at the corners, Deichmann came up with one out and grounded out to first to score Merrell from third and give the Ports a 4-0 cushion. It was the only run allowed by Smith in his lone inning of work.
Meanwhile, Ports starter Parker Dunshee (1-0) continued his sensational stretch of scoreless innings dating back to last season when he pitched for Short-Season Vermont. Dunshee survived his only real threat in the third when he gave up a single and a walk to start the inning, going on to escape unscathed. He would work five scoreless frames and allow just one hit while walking one and striking out four in picking up his first Cal-League win. He has now worked 48.1 consecutive scoreless frames, and Ports starters now boast an ERA of 0.45 over their first eight games.
Brandon Marsonek took over for Dunshee in the sixth and gave up a leadoff double followed by a bunt single that put runners at the corners. Brandon Van Horn came up next and reached on an error committed by Persico at first base that allowed a run to score to make it 4-1. Marsonek, however, would get Wonder Franco to hit into a 4-6-3 double play and strike out Gio Brusa to escape further trouble.
Marsonek would allow one run on two hits over two innings worked as he set the side down in order in the seventh.
Miguel Romero (SV, 3) came on to start the eighth and faced the minimum over two innings to notch his third save in as many opportunities.
Nolan Riggs and Patrick Ruotolo combined for four scoreless frames down the stretch for San Jose.
The Ports and Giants play the second game of their four-game set on Friday night at Municipal Stadium. Brian Howard (1-0, 0.00 ERA) makes the start for Stockton, opposed by San Jose left-hander Mac Marshall (0-0, 0.00 ERA). First pitch is set for 7 p.m. PDT.
